The Government of Laos has begun transitioning its low-voltage electricity, internet, and communication cables underground in an effort to reduce fire hazards, improve public safety, and modernise its utility infrastructure. The project is led by Electricité du Laos (EDL) and Sisan International Joint Development Sole Company Limited.
The first phase will cover a 12 km stretch in Vientiane, targeting key government and public zones. Subsequent phases will expand to four districts in the capital and later to other provincial capitals. The move comes amid persistent problems with tangled and overloaded overhead cables causing frequent outages and even fatalities.